Toe lasting machines



July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE TOE LASTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1959 By his Aztom n/wil w r, n 9

H ee Q l H Inventor Andreu/J Gz'lbrz'ae July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE 2,990,559

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26. 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE 2,990,559

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 F' 9/4 726 {9 A 9/2 EL :j zz

July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE 2,990,559

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE TOE 'LASTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 26, 1959 July 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE 2,990,559

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jul 4, 1961 A. J. GILBRIDE TOE LASTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 26, 1959 United States Patent 2,990,559 TOE LA'STING MACHINES Andrew J. Gilbride, Swampscott, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 789,103 18 Claims. (Cl. 12-124) This invention relates to toe lasting machines and especially to certain improvements in toe lasting machines for facilitating the shaping of the upper materials around the toe end of a last. Although the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a toe lasting machine of the type disclosed in a copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 731,686, filed April 29, 1958, in the names of Joseph 0. Faneuf, Richard M. Elliott, and Daniel E. Chaplin, it will be understood that in various broader aspects features of the invention are not limited to use in a machine of that particular type or to the exact mechanical construction shown.

In the lasting of the toe ends of shoes in machines of the so-called bed type, of which the machine shown in the aforementioned application is a more recent development, the upper materials are shaped to the toe end of the last by means of the toe wipers as a result of relative heightwise movement between these wipers and the toe end of the shoe being lasted. During this upwiping operation, the positions of the wipers relatively to the toe end of the shoe in the direction of the advancing and closing movements of the wipers are controlled by the operator by means of a manually operable control member, or hand lever, associated with the manually operable Wiper advancing and closing mechanism. Because of the rigid and unyielding character of the toe wipers extreme care is required of the operator in thus controlling the wipers so as to assure a proper action of the wipers during the upwiping operation. Also, accurate positioning of the toe end of the shoe in a widthwise direction relatively to the wipers is essential to assure uniformity of action of the wipers on the upper at the opposite sides of the toe end of the last during the upwiping operation. Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide improvements for toe lasting machines of the type herein under consideration and mentioned above wherein the upwiping operation is not only greatly facilitated, but operator care and efiort is correspondingly reduced.

With the above object in view, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the herein illustrated toe lasting machine, which has a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last and toe wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, is provided with a member for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind the toe wipers to a projected and 0p erative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, together with means for yieldingly holding this member in its retracted and inoperative position, and means under the control of the operator for projecting it to its operative position against the resistance of the yieldable holding means. More particularly, the upwiping member comprises a flexible toe band adapted to be moved from its retracted and inoperative position to a projected and operative position relatively to the toe end of the shoe variably predetermined by adjustable stop means, by fluid operated means operable in response to an initial movement of a manually movable member associated with the means for advancing and closing the wipers.

Further to facilitate the upwiping operation by relieving the operator of the labor involved in effecting relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the upwiping members, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the herein illustrated machine is also provided with means for simultaneously projecting the upwiping member to its operative position and for effecting such relative heightwise movement between the support and said member in a direction to effect upwiping of the upper materials around the toe end of the last. More particularly, the upwiping member, as indicated above, comprises a flexible toe band and is adapted to be projected to operative position by fluid pressure operated means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable wiper operating member, while fluid pressure operated means also operable in response to initial movement of the manually movable member is provided for eifecting such relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the toe band, together with means under the control of the operator and, preferably, including a control element carried on the manually movable member for terminating such relative heightwise movement at the conclusion of the upwiping operation and prior to the advancing and closing movements of the wipers to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of the shoe being lasted.

Immediately after the lasting margin of the upper materials has been thus wiped inwardly over the toe end of the insole, the lasting margin is pressed firmly against the insole by the wipers as a result of relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and a wiper head on which the toe Wipers, as well as the toe band, are mounted in a direction opposite to that of the upwiping operation. In the herein illustrated machine such relative movement between the shoe support and the wiper head is effected by fluid pressure operated means, while in the machine of the mentioned application such relative movement may be effected either by means of a foot treadle, as in a socalled bed type toe lasting machine, or by fluid pressure operated means under the control of a control element carried by the manually movable member associated with the wiper advancing and closing means. During the advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers the toe band is urged firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe by fluid pressure operated means, and in order to avoid any tendency of the toe band to draw the upper materials downwardly over the toe end of the last as relative heightwise movement is eifected between the support and the wiper head in a direction to cause the wipers to press the upper against the insole, means are provided in accordance with still another feature of the invention for relieving the pressure of the toe hand against the shoe during this so-called bedding down action. More particularly, the toe band is urged into engagement with the upper of the shoe by fluid pressure operated means, and means, responsive to the admission of fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure operated means for eifecting, relative movement between the shoe support and the wiper head, are provided for discontinuing the action of the fluid pressure operated means for urging the toe band into engagement with the upper during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a toe lasting machine embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view at an enlarged scale of the machine shown in FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 2 at a still further enlarged scale and with some of the parts broken away and others shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of that portion of the machine which is shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are step views showing the operating elements of the machine in different positions assumed during the toe lasting operation, and with certain of these operating elements shown in vertical section;

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the lower portion of the machine, as seen from the left-hand side thereof and with certain parts broken away and others omitted in order to simplify the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing portions of the operating mechanism of the machine together with the fluid pressure system which is associated therewith.

Referring to these drawings, the machine which is therein illustrated is, except as modified to embody the features of the present invention and as specifically pointed out below, substantially similar to the machine disclosed in the above-identified application. Thus, this machine comprises a main frame including a base casting 22 on which there is mounted, by means of four posts 24, 24, FIGS. 1 and 9, an upper frame casting 26. A wiper head, indicated generally by the reference character 40, FIGS. 2 and 3, is rotatably mounted, for angular adjustment by means of a handle 42, on a carriage 44 which, in turn, is slidably mounted for linear adjustment by means of a hand wheel 46, FIGS. 1 and 2, on an arm 48 supported for pivotal movement on the upper casting 26 by means of a cross shaft 49. The toe lasting wipers S0, 50 are mounted on carriers 51, 51, FIG. 3, and are adapted to be advanced and closed by means of cam slots 53, 53 in the carriers and rolls 55, 55, associated with the wiper head, in response to axial movement of a hollow wiper operating rod 52, see also FIGS. 2 and 11, by means including a hand lever 54 having a handle, or hand grip portion 56, FIGS. 1, 2 and 11.

As in the construction of the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the hand lever 54 is of hollow, open-sided construction and has a hollow hub portion 60 by means of which it is journaled in a bearing 62 associated with the upper frame casting 26, FIG. 1, and see also the diagrammatic showing in FIG. 11. Formed integrally with the hub portion 60 is a downwardly extending arm 66 which is connected to the lower end of a differential, or feed back lever 70, by means of a link 72, FIG. 11, pivotally mounted on a pin 74 carried by a bifurcated block 76 which is formed integrally with a bleed valve 78. As is explained in the mentioned application, and as will appear below, this bleed valve is at times held on its seat to permit manual advancing and closing of the wipers 50, 50 by the hand lever 54 with the pin 74 providing a fixed fulcrum for the lever 70. At its upper end, the lever 70 is connected, as is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11, by means of a link 80 to the upwardly extending arm 82 of a bell crank lever 84 having a second arm 86. The latter arm of this bell crank lever is, in turn, connected by' means of a link 88 to an arm 90 of another bell crank lever 92 having a second arm 94 which, in turn, is connected by means of a pair of links 96, 96, and a cross block 98, FIG. 2, to the wiper operating rod 52.

Also connected to the arm 82 of the bell crank lever 84 is the operating rod 100 of a fluid-pressure actuator 102, indicated generally by the reference character 102 and including a flexible diaphragm and a return spring, not shown, and a cylinder to which a supply conduit 106 leads. Connected to the rod 100 of the actuator 102 is the operating rod 110 of a hydraulic control piston 112 which is slidably mounted within a cylindrical bore 118 formed in a housing 120. As is diagramatically illustrated in FIG. 11, the ends of the cylindrical bore 118, on the opposite sides of the piston 112 may be placed in communication through passageways 126, by means of the bleed valve 78 or a conical shut-off valve 132. For holding the valve 78 on its seat, a lever having a rounded end bearing against the block 76 and pivotally mounted on a portion of the upper frame casting 26 is acted upon by the piston rod 172 of a piston mounted in a cylinder 174 and having associated therewith a return spring 190. During the manual operation of the wipers 50, 50 by the hand lever 54, the cylinder 174 is connected through a conduit 176 and a 2-way valve 180, having an operating solenoid 188, with a main pressure supply line 182 connected to a source of compressed air. A compression spring 166 is also provided for holding the valve 76 yieldingly closed at other times and when the solenoid 188 is energized to shift the valve to a position for connecting the conduit 176 to an exhaust port 187 and, at the same time, connecting the conduit 106 to the main pressure line 182. The valve 132 has a stem which is connected to one end of a lever 240 the other end of which is acted upon by a compression spring 250 so as to move the valve to the open position in which it is shown in FIG. 11, when the space in a cylinder 248 to the right of a piston 246 is connected to exhaust through a conduit 260 and a valve 268 having an operating solenoid 274. The piston 246 is connected to the lever 240 by means of a rod 244.

As is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11, there is pivotally mounted on the hand lever 54, by means of a pin 198, another lever 200 which carries at its upper end an offset portion 202 extending beyond the hand grip 56 thus to serve as a control plunger or push button. Bearing against the lower end of the lever 200 is a control rod 204. This rod is urged yieldingly to the left, to hold the lower end of the lever 200 against an adjustable stop screw 208, by means of a compression spring 210 which is interposed between a collar on the rod 204 and a portion of a pressure regulator valve, indicated generally by the reference character 218 and diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11. The rod 204 carries a cam member 226 which is adapted upon initial movement of the rod to the right, against the resistance of the spring 210, to engage a roller 235 associated with a microswitch 232, thus closing this switch,

With the arrangement which has so far been briefly described and which will be recognized as being like that provided in the machine of the above-mentioned application, when the push button 202 is released, solenoids 188, 274 will each be deenergized. Thus, valve 78 will be held closed and the fulcrum point 74 held fixed by means of piston 170, while the valve 132 will be held open by spring 250 so that the wipers 50, 50 may be advanced and closed manually by means of the hand lever 54 in the manner explained more fully in the abovementioned application and which should also be apparent from the description herein. Similarly, when the push button 202 is initially moved to the left, FIGS. 2 and 11, the switch 232 will be closed thereby energizing the solenoid 274 and shifting the valve 268 to a position in which conduit 260 is connected to the main pressure line 182. Valve 132 will now be moved to closed position by the piston 246 and lever 240, one end of which lever will engage the plunger 282 of a microswitch 280 thereby closing this switch and energizing the solenoid 188, see FIG. 4. The solenoid 188 will shift the valve 180 to a position to connect the conduit 176 to the exhaust line 187 and at the same time to connect the conduit 106, which leads to the actuator 102, to the main pressure line. Wipers 50, 50 may now be advanced and closed under power by means of the actuator 102 and under the control of the hand lever 54 with a servo action as explained in the mentioned application.

, Connected to and extending downwardly from the arm 44 is a link 360 by means of which the wiper head may be moved in a heightwise direction, relatively to a shoe being lasted. At its lower end this link is connected to an operating lever, indicated generally by the reference character 354, FIGS. 9 and 10, and having aims '352 and 358, this lever being pivotally mounted on the base casting 22. As in the machine of the mentioned application, there is also connected to the arm 358 of this lever, the nod 370 of a fluid pressure actuator 372, including a piston and return spring, not shown, and a cylinder 376 to which a conduit 380 is connected. This conduit leads, through a quick clump valve 384 and a directional valve 382 to be mentioned below, to the pressure regulator valve 218 which is connected to the main pressure line 182. This pressure regulator valve, which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11, is of a commercial type and has a control plunger 390, a regulating spring 392 and an exhaust port 410. The arrangement of this valve is like that in the machine of the prior application and such that movement of the pushbutton 202 to the left, beyond the point where the switch 232 is closed, causes the rod 204 to engage the rod 390, whereupon continued movement of the push-button, and hence of the rod 390, will disconnect the conduit 380 from the exhaust 410 and admit fluid under pressure from the main pressure line thereto at a pressure which is increased as the push-button is moved further to the left and the rod 390 further to the right. Upon release of the push-button, or its return to a position where the switch 232 is just closed, the conduit 380 below the valve 218 is connected to the exhaust line 410. Thus, after the lasting margin of the upper materials has been wiped inwardly over the toe end of a shoe being lasted, the wiper head may be moved downwardly to cause the wipers to exert a bedding pressure thereon by fluid under pressure admitted to the actuator 372 in response to movement of the push-button 202.

In order to make it possible for the operator to continue the application of bedding pressure without holding the push-button 202, the directional valve 382 and a manually operable valve 422 are provided. The valve 422, which is conveniently mounted on the wiper head, is adapted to be moved from a mid position, in which it is shown, to two different operating positions by a hand lever 430, FIGS. 1 and 2, the two arms of which are diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11 by members 426 and 428, the arrangement being such that when the end 426 is pushed downwardly toward the wiper head, the valve is operated to connect the conduit 421 to a conduit 420 and hence to the main pressure line 182, while by depressing the other end of this lever, this valve is moved to a position in which conduit 421 is disconnected from the conduit 420 and connected to exhaust. It may be noted that when the valve 422 is in its mid-position conduits 420 and 421 are both blocked. When the conduit 421 is connected to the main pressure line, as above explained, the valve 382 is shifted to connect this conduit to the conduit 380 below the valve and to shut off communication between two portions of the conduit 380 which extend above and below this valve. Therefore, the operator may release the push-but-ton 202 and bedding pressure will still be continued by fiuid under pressure supplied to the actuator 372 from the conduit 421. Release of the bedding pressure may be eiiected by lifting the actuator end of the lever 430, to shift the valve 422 to a position for connecting the conduit 421 to exhaust. Also, as in the machine of the mentioned application, conduit 421 will be exhausted through a conduit 432 and a check valve 660 when the shoe is unjacked.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, the shoe supporting mechanism of the herein illustrated machine is exactly like that of the machine disclosed in the mentioned application and includes a toe rest 480, a last supporting spindle 482 and a heel abutment 484. The spindle 482 is mounted on the upper end of a lever 500, see FIG.

11, which is adapted to be actuated by means of a fluid pressure actuator 508 to force the heel end of a shoe on the spindle rearwardly against the heel abutment thereby firmly clamping the toe end of the shoe on the toe rest. The fluid actuator 508 is connected to a conduit 550 and, by way of a quick dump valve 552, pressure regulator valve 554 and a manually operable off-on valve 556 to the main pressure line 182. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the conduit 432 is connected to the conduit 550, and through this conduit, to the ofl-on valve 556. Thus, when the valve 556 is moved to its off position, the conduits 432 and 4-21 will be connected to exhaust, as will also the actuator 508 through the quick dump valve 552.

As described so far, the herein illustrated machine is constructed substantially like and operates in the same manner as the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned application with the exception that no foot treadle is provided for actuating the lever 354, FIGS. 9 and 11, for the purpose of elevating the wiper head 40 to eiiect the so-called up-wipe operation or for depressing the wiper head to press the wipers against the overlasted margin of the upper materials prior to the application of bedding pressure by means of the fluid pressure actuator 372. For the purposes of this invention and to facilitate the upwiping operation, the following arrangement is provided. Referring to FIG. 9, there is supported on a cross bracket 700, secured to two of the posts 24, 24, a cylinder 702 in which there is slidably mounted a piston 704 having a piston rod 706. At its lower end, this piston rod is connected to the lever 354 by means of a clevis block 708 and a lever extension plate 710. Connected to the lower portion of the cylinder 702, beneath the piston 704, is a conduit 720 which leads, through a pilot shut-off valve 722, having an operating cylinder 723 and a valve 724 having an operating solenoid 726, to the main pressure line 182. When the solenoid 726 is deenergized the valve 724 will be in the position shown in FIG. 11 with the conduit 720 connected to an exhaust port 730. On the other hand, upon energization of the solenoid 726 this valve will be moved to a position in which the conduit 720 is connected to the main pressure line 182. The upper portion of the cylinder 720, above the piston 704, is filled with a liquid, such as oil, from a reservoir 740 by means of parallel conduits 742, 744, in the former of which there is a check valve 745, opening toward the cylinder 702, and in the latter of which is interposed a pilot operated shut-off valve 746 having an operating cylinder 748, and an adjustable needle valve 750. As is illustrated in FIG. 11, the operating cylinder 723 of the valve 722 is connected to a conduit 752 which leads to the conduit 380, mentioned above, while the operating cylinder 748 of the valve 746 is connected to the conduit 260.

Mounted on the end of a rod 800, which is slidably supported in the lower portion of the wiper head 40, FIG. 3, is a bracket 802 to which a toe band, indicated generally by the reference character 804, is secured by means of a horizontal pin 806 and a vertical pin 808, see FIG. 6. Also secured to this bracket are the inner ends of two chain pieces 810, the outer ends of which are fastened to the outer end portions of the toe band by means of metal blocks 812, FIGS. 3 and 5. Each of the blocks 812 has connected to it one end of a curved link 820 the other end of which is connected to a piston rod 822. Each piston rod is associated with a piston 824 slidable within a cylinder 826 together with a return spring 828. These two cylinders are supported on the lower side of the wiper head by means of brackets 830, 830 and have supply conduits 832, 832 which are connected to a common conduit 834, FIG. 11. At its outer end each piston rod is threaded to receive an internally threaded sleeve 840 having a flange 842 for engaging the stem portion 844 of a closure block 846 for the cylinder 826 thereby to limit retractive movement of the piston 824 by its return spring 828. This flange also is adapted to engage the head 850 of a stop screw 852, threaded into a downwardly extending portion 854 of the block 846, FIG. 5, thereby to limit the outward movement of the piston. As can be seen in FIG. 5, each link 820 is of rectilinear shape in cross section and is slidably received between the lower side of the wiper head 40 and the upper side of a supporting block 856 secured to the head, see also FIG. 3.

As will be apparent, when fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinders 826, 826, the outer ends of the toe band will be moved to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, and downwardly as viewed in FIG. 3. The above-mentioned bracket 802 is free to move in this direction to an extent determined by the engagement of an abutment bar 860 which is formed integrally with a sleeve 862, threaded on a rear portion of the rod 800, with an abutment surface 864 on the wiper head 40, against the resistance of a return spring 866. Secured to the outer end of the rod 800 is a hand wheel 868 by means of which the rod may be turned to adjust the bracket 802, and hence the inner portion of the toe band, relatively to the wiper head and, of course, to the wipers which are carried thereby. Inasmuch as the forward movement of this bracket is predetermined by the width of the space between the bar 860 and the surface 864, the aforementioned adjustment also predetermines the outward position of this portion of the toe band relatively to the toe end of a shoe being lasted. Similarly, the positions of the outer ends of the toe band, when the pistons 824, 824 are actuated, may be variably predetermined by means of adjustable stop screws 852, 852. The toe band, which is shaped as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 so as to present a definite wiping edge 870, is preferably formed of Teflon, or some similar synthetic plastic ma terial having a very low coefficient of friction and which is flexible enough to conform nicely to the shape of the toe end of the shoe during the up-wiping operation.

Referring to FIG. 11, the conduit 834 leads through a pilot operated valve 900 having an operating cylinder 902, connected to the conduit 752 which is mentioned above, a pressure regulator valve 904 and a solenoid operated valve 906, having an operating solenoid 908, to the main pressure line 182. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the two valve operating solenoids 726 and 908 are adapted to be energized upon the closing of a switch 910. This switch is mounted on the carriage 44, FIGS. 1 and 2, and has an operating plunger carrying a roll 912. Secured to the cross block 98, which is associated with the wiper operating rod 52, is a switch operating cam 914 having a fiat portion and an angular portion, see also FIG. 11. When the hand lever 54 is released, it is returned to the idle position in which it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of mechanism which is similar to that of the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned application and which includes a spring 920, see also FIG. 9, with the wipers 50, 50 fully retracted and opened and with the roll 912 bearing against the cam 914 in a location adjacent to the juncture of the flat and angular portions thereof, thus to hold the switch 910 open against the action of an operating spring not shown. Accordingly, upon an initial swinging movement of the hand lever 54, the switch 910 will be closed by its spring and the solenoids 726 and 908 will be energized.

As a result of the energizing of the solenoid 726 fluid under pressure from the main supply line 182 will be admitted through valves 724 and 722 and conduit 720 to the lower portion of the cylinder 702 thus causing the wiper head 40 to be elevated by the piston 704, acting through the lever 354 and link 360. Such upward movement of the wiper head will, of course, be at a regulated speed determined by the setting of the needle valve 750 which controls the flow of oil out of the upper portion of the cylinder 702, above the piston 704, back into the reservoir 740. At the same time, the energizing of the solenoid 908 will shift the valve 906 to a position for admitting fluid under pressure from the main supply line 182 through this valve, the pressure regulator valve 904, valve 900, conduit 834 and conduits 832, to the cylinders 826, 826, thus advancing and closing the toe band 804 to a predetermined operative position relatively to the toe end of a shoe S being lasted, herein illustrated as comprising a last L with an upper U and insole I assembled thereon, see FIG. 6, in which the advanced and closed toe band is shown in solid lines while the initial position of the toe band is indicated by dotted lines.

Because of the retarding effect of the needle valve 750, the toe band 804, movement of which, by the pistons 824 is unrestricted, assumes its operative position immediately and before any appreciable upward movement has been imparted to the wiper head by the piston 704. Thus, during the upward movement of the wiper head, the upper U will be wiped upwardly around and shaped to the toe end of the last by the action of the wiping edge 870 on the toe band 804 which is held yieldingly in engagement with the upper around the toe end of the last by the action of the pistons 824, 824. As this up-wiping action progresses, the operator may hold the lasting margin of the upper outspread over the wipers 50, 50 thus to determine when the wipers have reached the plane of the insole at which point the up-wiping operation should be terminated. This is effected by a slight initial displacement of the push-button 202 to the left to close the switch 232, thus energizing the solenoid 274 to activate the power over-wipe by admitting fluid under pressure to the conduit 260 through the valve 268. As the result of admission of fluid under pressure from the conduit 260 to the operating cylinder 748, the valve 746 will be immediately shifted to closed position thus preventing further movement of the piston 704 and arresting an upward movement of the wiper head. For limiting upward movement of the wiper head to an extent such that the wipers are elevated somewhat above the toe end of the shoe being lasted, the end of the arm 352 of the lever 354 is shaped to extend over a collar 930 which is fast on vertical shaft 932, FIGS. 9 and 10. This shaft is threaded at its lower end, as indicated by the reference character 934, for engagement with a threaded hole formed in a bracket 936, and to its upper end, which passes through a guide bore in the casting 26, FIG. 1, there is secured a hand wheel 938. To speed up downward movement of the wiper head a return spring 940 is associated with the piston rod 706, FIG. 9.

After the up-wiping operation has been terminated by the operator, FIG. 7, the wipers may be advanced and closed, by means of the power actuator 102 under a servo control in response to movement of the hand lever 54 in the same manner as in the machine of the abovementioned application and, at the conclusion of this over- Wiping operation, the operator will displace the pushbutton 202 further to the left thereby to effect power bedding by means of the actuator 372, also in the same manner as in the prior machine and with a force which is determined by the pressure regulator valve 218 under the direct control of the push-button 202. The admission of fluid under pressure to the actuator 372 through the conduit 380, to which valve operating cylinders 723 and 902 are connected by conduit 752, causes the valve 900 to move to a position to connect the two cylinders 826, 826 to exhaust and the valve 722 to move to a position to connect the cylinder 702, below the piston 704 to exhaust. Therefore, when the wiper head 40 is moved downwardly relatively to the toe end of the shoe being lasted to apply the so-called bedding pressure, the pressure of the toe band against the upper around the toe end of the last will be relieved and the toe band will be retracted, by return springs 828, 828 and 866, more or less to the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 8, thereby entirely avoiding any tendency of the toe band to down-wipe or loosen the upper around the toe end of the last. By connecting the cylinder 702, below the piston 704, to

v 9 a exhaust, all the force exerted by the actuator 372 is made eflective for applying bedding pressure on the lasting margin of the upper by the wipers 50, 50 since downward movement of the wiper head is unrestrained as oil from the reservoir 740 is drawn freely into the upper portion of the cylinder 762 through conduit 742 and past the ball check valve 745.

The operation of the herein illustrated machine should, it is believed, be quite apparent from the foregoing description. It may be noted, however, that the provision of the flexible toe band which is projected to a predetermined operative position, ahead of the wipers, relatively to the toe end of the shoe being lasted, not only relieves the operator from the exercise of the extreme care usually required in locating the wipers during the up-wiping operation, but facilitates the presentation of shoes to the machine, while the provision of a power up-wiping movement of the wiper head, initiated simultaneously with the projection of the toe band to operative position, entirely eliminates the labor hitherto involved in this operation. By controlling these actions, in response to an initial movement of the wiper operating lever, the operation of the machine is, of course, simplified. Similarly, accurate and eflective' control of the extent of upward movement of the wiper head is assured by the push-button control for terminating the up-wipe, and down-wiping of the upper materials is avoided by relieving the pressure of the toe band when the wiper head is operated to apply bedding pressure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising a last with an upper and insole assembled thereon, toe wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted-and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for eflecting said advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band conformable to the toe end of a last for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the sup port, adjustable stop means for variably predetermining the location of said toe band relatively to the toe end of the last when said toe band is in its projected and operative position, means for yieldingly holding the toe band in said retracted and inoperative position, and power operated means under the control of the operator for projecting the toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means.

2. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising a last with an upper and insole assembled thereon, toe wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting said advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band conformable to the toe end of a last for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding the toe band in said retracted and inoperative position, and means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for projecting the toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means.

3. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising a last with an upper and insole assembled thereon, toe wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for eflecting said advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band conformable to the toe end of a last for Wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the Wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, adjustable stop means for variably predetermining the location of said toe band relatively to the toe end of the last when said toe band is in its projected and operative position, means for yieldingly holding the toe band in said retracted and inoperative position, and means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for projecting the toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means.

4. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising a last with an upper and insole assembled thereon, toe wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for eflecting said advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band conformable to: the toe end of a last for Wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the Wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, adjustable stop means for variably predetermining the location of said toe band relatively to the toe end of the last when said toe band is in its projected and operative position, means for yieldingly holding the toe band in said retracted and inoperative position, and fluid pressure operated means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for projecting the toe band to operative position against the resist 'ance of said yieldable holding means,

5. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers toa projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said flexible toe band in its retracted and inoperative position, and power operated means under the control of the operator for simultaneously projecting said flexible toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and effecting relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in the mentioned direction.

6. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a member for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said member in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said member in its retracted and inoperative position, and means operative in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said member to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and effecting relative movement between the support and said member in the mentioned direction.

7. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said flexible toe band in its retracted and inoperative position, and fluid pressure operated means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said flexible toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and effecting relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in the mentioned direction.

8. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a

member for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said member in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said member in its retracted and inoperative position, power operated means under the control of the operator for simultaneously projecting said member to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and efiecting relative movement between the support and said member in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said memher.

9. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for efiecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said flexible toe band in its retracted and inoperative position, means operable in response to initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said flexible toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and effecting relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said flexible toe band.

10. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a member for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said member in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said member in its retracted and inoperative position, fluid pressure operated means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said member to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and effecting relative movement between the support and said member in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said member.

11. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in one direction heightwise of' the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said flexible toe band in its retracted and inoperative position, power operated means under the control of the operator for simultaneously projecting said flexible toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and eflecting relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator and including a control element on said manually movable member for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said flexible toe band.

12. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, means including a manually movable member for effecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a member for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said member in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means for yieldingly holding said member in its retracted and inoperative position, means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said member to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and eflecting relative movement between the support and said member in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator and including a control element on said manually movable member for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said member.

13. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, toe lasting wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the, support, means including a manually movable member for eifecting such advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, a flexible toe band for wiping the upper materials heightwise around the toe end of the last, in response to relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in one direction heightwise of the last, and movable from a retracted and inoperative position behind said wipers to a projected and operative position ahead of the wipers, relatively to a shoe on the support, means -for yieldingly holding said flexible toe band in its retracted and inoperative position, fluid pressure operated means operable in response to an initial movement of the manually movable member for simultaneously projecting said flexible toe band to operative position against the resistance of said yieldable holding means and eflecting relative movement between the support and said flexible toe band in the mentioned direction, and means under the control of the operator and including a control element on said manually movable member for terminating said relative heightwise movement between the support and said flexible toe band.

14. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers mounted on the head for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a flexible member mounted on the wiper head and adapted to embrace the toe end of the shoe, means for urging said member firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe during the advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, means for effecting relative heightwise movement between the support and said wiper head in one direction to cause the wipers to press the overwiped lasting margin of the upper materials firmly against the insole, and means for relieving the pressure of the flexible member on the upper of the shoe during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

15. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers mounted on the head for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a flexible toe band mounted on the wiper head and adapted to embrace the toe end of the shoe, fluid pressure operated means for urging said toe band firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe during the advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, means for effecting relative heightwise movement between the support and said wiper head in one direction to cause the wipers to press the overwiped lasting margin of the upper materials firmly against the insole, and means for relieving the pressure of the flexible toe band on the upper of the shoe during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

16. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers mounted on the head for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a flexible toe band mounted on the wiper head and adapted to embrace the toe end of the shoe, power operated means for urging said flexible toe band firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe during the advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, power operated means for effecting relative height-wise movement between the support and said wiper head in one direction to cause the wipers to press the overwiped lasting margin of the upper materials firmly against the insole, and means for relieving the pressure of the flexible toe band on the upper of the shoe during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

17. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers mounted on the head for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a flexible toe band mounted on the wiper head and adapted to embrace the toe end of the shoe, power operated means for urging said flexible toe band firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe during the advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, means for effecting relative heightwise move ment between the support and said wiper head in one direction to cause the wipers to press the overwiped lasting margin of the upper materials firmly against the insole, and means responsive to the operation of the means for effecting relative movement between the shoe sup port and the wiper head for discontinuing the action of said urging means to relieve the pressure of the flexible toe band on the upper of the shoe during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

18. A toe lasting machine having a support for a shoe comprising an upper assembled with an insole on a last, a wiper head, toe lasting wipers mounted on the head for advancing and closing movements from retracted and open positions for wiping the lasting margin of,

the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a flexible toe band mounted on the wiper head and adapted to embrace the toe end of the shoe, fluid pressure operated means for urging the flexible toe band firmly into engagement with the upper of the shoe dun'ngthe advancing and closing movements of the toe wipers, power operated means for effecting relative heightwise movement between the support and said wiper head in one direction to cause the wipers to press the overwiped lasting margin of the upper materials firmly against the insole, and means responsive to the operation of said power operated means for effecting relative movement between the shoe support and the wiper head for discontinuing the action of said fluid pressure operated urging means to relieve the pressure of the flexible toe band on the upper of the shoe during such relative heightwise movement between the support and the wiper head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,066,375 Brack July 1, 1913 2,324,509 Jorgensen July 20, 1943 2,354,685 Jorgensen Aug. 1, 1944 2,479,575 Jorgensen Aug. 23, 1949 

